The AKA Grand Nationals return to Chicago, Illinois along with the NASKA Banquet awarding the top competitors of the 2010 season.

The NASKA World Tour, the most prestigious open martial arts tournament circuit, opens the 2011 season at Sensei John Sharkey, Jr.’s AKA Grand Nationals at the Hyatt Regency Chicago from January 27-29, 2011.  The NASKA Banquet will be held on Thursday, January 27th , which will celebrate the top competitors of the 2010 season of the NASKA World Tour.

The open martial arts competition will begin in the evening of Friday, January 28th and all day through the evening finals competition on Saturday, January 29th.  As with all NASKA World Tour competitions, the 2011 AKA Grand Nationals will feature forms, weapons, and sparring divisions.  An added feature will be TrickAmerica divisions, which will be a competition of “tricking” or martial acrobatics in the style of Parkour.  For more information on the AKA Grand Nationals and to register for the tournament/banquet, click here.

In response to feedback from competitors, parents, and coaches, NASKA’s Board of Directors has implemented some changes of rules for the 2011 season.  They range from positive (i.e. certification program for officials, advanced announcement of tournament schedules), potentially promising (i.e. timing of divisions), to increasingly complicated (i.e. tournament point values/ratings schedule).  How the rules are applied and impact the competition is uncertain, but they will certainly make the 2011 season more interesting.  For a complete list of rules, click here.

CULINARY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MARTIAL FOODIE:
For attendees who want fine dining, it will be too early for Chicago Restaurant Week, but the restaurants listed in the article are great places to try nonetheless.  The following restaurants are close to the Hyatt Regency and worthy of mention (*needs reservation ASAP):
- *Topolobampo still has availability for lunch this Friday for parties of 3-7.
- *Naha and *Blackbird are available for lunch and dinner this Friday.
- Nearby Morton’s (Downtown location) offers outstanding food deals at their Bar 12-21 for Power Hour (weekdays from 4:30-6:30pm and 9pm to close).

POST-EVENT UPDATE

TOURNAMENT RESULTS:
Congratulations to all winners, competitors, spectators, organizers, and staff for an exciting weekend of competition at the 46th AKA Grand Nationals!

Adult Overall Grand Champions
Men’s Forms: Mickey Lee‡
vs. Marc Canonizado*, Will Cornell, Matt Emig, and Anthony Maylath
Women’s Forms: Olivia Wicker‡
vs. Caitlin Dechelle* and Becca Ross
Men’s Weapons: Kalman Csoka‡*
vs. Matt Emig, Jarrett Leiker, and Don Hyun Kiolbassa
Women’s Weapons: Caitlin Dechelle*
vs. Becca Ross and Olivia Wicker‡
Men’s Sparring: Ross Levine
vs. Hamed Firouzi
Women’s Sparring: Chelsey Nash
vs. Melanie Ortiz

Youth Overall Grand Champions
14-17 Forms: Micah Karns‡*
vs. Dayna Huor‡ and Micayla Johnson*
14-17 Weapons: Micayla Johnson*
vs. Stephanie Figueroa‡, Ross Kohnstam*, and Vincent Scarduzio‡
13 and Under Forms: Sammy Smith*
vs. Lady Jade Miles‡, Danny Etkin‡, and Aidan Considine‡
13 and Under Weapons: Jackson Rudolph‡*
vs. Sammy Smith* and Amanda Chen‡

‡Traditional Grand Champion
*Contemporary Grand Champion

Adult 30+ Grand Champions
Women’s Forms: Giselle Segura
vs. Cynthia Thompson and Susan Wackett
Women’s Weapons: Giselle Segura
vs. Cynthia Thompson and Karen Ware
Men’s Forms: Drew Derrick-Bisbee
vs. Terry Creamer
Men’s Weapons: Eric Tremblay
vs. Drew Derrick-Bisbee and Fernando Cerra

Team Events Champions
Synchronized Forms: Marc Canonizado & Caitlin Dechelle
vs. Will Cornell & Brendan Rasinski

CULINARY FINDINGS:
The three of us enjoyed a stellar lunch at Topolobampo, and we highly recommend it!  For a review, click here.  For dinner, we had a such blast at Morton’s Bar enjoying fine bar food at an amazing deal that we bought the following day’s breakfast and lunch!  For a review, click here.